The first film ever made by a Bedouin filmmaker offers a solid exploration of writing as a therapeutic tool for addressing the past and present traumas of our main characters and ties it nicely with the complexities of distant relationships.

Nevertheless, the parallel plot, which drives much of the conflicts of our character, involving the suffered sexual abuse, wedding arrangement, and relationship with his wife feel considerably underdeveloped.

While the core themes are compelling, the execution falters, leaving some storylines feeling incomplete.

This movie presents a heartfelt love story that, while extremely delicate and corny, holds some charm.

Unfortunately, the depiction of hearing impairment feels clichéd, and the turning point comes out of nowhere, disrupting the narrative flow. The conflicts between characters are unfounded and exaggerated, leading to a final twist that not only feels bots unsurprising and absurd but most worryingly it undermines the overall message of the film.

Black Dog boasts stunning photography, with wide shots, pans, and tracks capturing the vastness of the Gobi Deserts and the desolation of the town where our story takes place.
The quiet but cool protagonist and his dog share amazing chemistry, with touching parallelisms to their “stray dogs” behaviour and relation to society and their surroundings.
Unfortunately, the other stories in the film, particularly the love story, fail to reach the same level of engagement and quality.

Elevated by a stellar performance of Ralph Fiennes, who brings depth to a PTSD-ridden Odysseus filled with a sense of guilt and shame. The story thrives in its lack of focus on the usual looks on the travel to Ithaca and the occurrences in Troy, as well as it manages to reach a serene yet powerful climax, leaving a lasting impact.
However, elements to enhance the Greek tragedy undertone, such as the fact the no one seems to recognise Odysseus, seems absurd. While at the same time, the threat that the thugs that control Ithaca and drive the narrative forward seems like an unjustified danger.
Finally, it is unfortunate that the performance of Charlie Plummer as Telemachus is quite underwhelming. Even a 10-second scene with Odysseus’ dying dog feels more powerful than any of his appearances.